Alarm over virginity tests for schoolgirls

A school in Sumatra, Indonesia, intends to have girls undergo a virginity test before admitting them into high scool.

The plan has been condemned by authorities and rights activists.

H.M. Rasyid, the head of the education board in the south Sumatran district of Prabumulih, says the test is needed because of increasing instances of premarital sex and prostitution among female students.

"Every woman has the right to virginity, though on the other hand, we expect students to not commit negative acts," Rasyid said, according to the Jakarta Globe newspaper.

While the test, which involves the forced examination of a girl's hymen to determine whether she has engaged in sexual intercourse, has been slammed as harmful and invasive, Rasyid insisted the plan would be implemented in 2014.

The policy has been heavily criticised by rights groups as well as senior politicians, including Indonesian Education Minister Mohammad Nuh, who appeared to be embarrassed the plan had even been in aired.

It's unclear, however, if the education ministry will intervene.

Indonesian rights group the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) also slammed the plan, with the organisation's deputy chairwoman, Masruchah, saying a student's body was not the dominion of public officials.

"Virginity is a personal issue, and a person has a right over their own body," she said.

"Morality cannot be determined by [a student's] genitals," she said.

"What will they do with the test results? Are they going to reveal which students are not virgins?"